Thread: The life and being of Carl Victor Heljestrand

A while ago I did a translation of a text from a Swedish book called "Svenska Industriens Män" (The men of Swedish industry) about Carl Victor Heljestrand aka C.V. Heljestrand.

I thought it could be of interest for some, so I figured I'd share it with my fellow SRP'ers

The original text is more than 100 years old and is therefore not protected by copyright laws.



Carl Victor Heljestrand

C.V. Heljestrand was born on January 30th 1816 in Eskilstuna, Sweden. His father, Alderman Olof Heljestrand, who had learned until now the unknown art of affix etching and gold plating of steel works. In 1810 the production started of finer steelworks. Already at the age of twelve, his son Carl Victor Heljestrand, began to work in his father's workshop. Which, after Olof's death in 1837, was taken over by the older brother, Nils Fredrik. The younger brother Carl Victor worked there until 1843.


In 1842, Professor N.G. Säfström of The Royal Board of Commerce, brought a proposal to the Whitesmithery-industrial development to send some workers abroad to gain practical knowledge of this industry. Due to this purpose, C.V. Heljestrand was offered to travel to England, but he lacked knowledge in several prerequisites, including the English language. he received grants for some months to acquire these skills at the Technological Institute in Stockholm. In the fall of 1843, he left for England where he, after many difficulties, obtained employment at Parker's & Lindby's knife factory in Sheffield.


Through his appealing personality, C.V.Heljestrand soon won the confidence amongst the English workmen. It also helped him to acquire the knowledge faster as it was the purpose of the trip. At the end of 1845, he left England and traveled across Belgium and Germany. He made sure to visit some of Europe's most renowned knife factories on his way back to Sweden. He returned to Eskilstuna later the same year.


After his return from England and encountering several barrier, he managed to rent a room of about eight feet wide and sixteen feet long in an existing grinding house. In this room, he procured a workshop after the English model with several grinding and polishing stands. Here in this narrow area, he taught and trained several workers in the art of making scissors and table forks. He continued to do so until the fall 1849. At this time, one of the town's grind houses became available for lease, and C.V.Heljestrand signed a lease contract for 25 years (it was unlikely to sign a lease for that long at the time).


He started to develop a chest disease, which would ultimately send this hard working, gifted man to a premature grave. He probably caught this debilitating disease during the three-year resident of the crowded, unhealthy premises.


But yet, he was not only working in his own factory. Several times, he shared his experience and insights with other Swedish workmen who wanted his help to establish the business relations with the rest of the world's and the big players in the steel industry. For this purpose, he made three more trips to foreign countries: the first time (1851) with the ironmaster C.A. Rettig to England and Belgium, the second time (1854) to England at the expense of the mill owner C.J. Olsson Riddarhyttan, and finally in 1856, again to England with The chamberlain Stockenström. Through all these trips, the desired results was achieved, which was largely by Heljestrands earnings.


C.V. Heljestrand could now rest in peace and quiet. He would have the greatest hope of success and continue the primary occupation: whitesmithery and the production of the best razors that Sweden has ever seen. He also had the pleasure of seeing his brands receive the best ratings, both within and outside Sweden. But, his bodily forces are coming to an end, and even though his soul to the end took full vigor, a debilitating tuberculosis laid him in the grave on the 29th July 1861 when he was only 45 of age.


Shortly after C.V. Heljestrand's death, this was written in the "Post and Domestic Newspapers":


"The deceased has been known for great knowledge and zealous activity in forging and manufacturing in general and particularly in the finer steel works, which was made by himself. Within his community, he seemed more than anyone else, at the same time and with the same zeal for the manufacture for proper promotion and public affairs. Even after he was taken to his sick bed, he wouldn't leave. He often shared his thoughts and advice on matters relating to the public with the sound discretion and clearly perceptive ability, which was his own. He is loved and missed by the community he belonged, and the loss is so much bigger, as long as it surely will be irreplaceable. "

Rather interesting give you an idea of what actually went into making some of the razors out there.

Wow thanks for this!! Having a few Heljestrand razors this was a great insight!

Wow....thank you so much for sharing. I have always wondered about the history of CVH

As an additional note, the Heljestrand knife factory was founded in 1808 by Olof Heljestrand, the factory was closed, caused by bankruptcy in 1980.

To my knowledge (note this is secondhand information I have recieved in my search for information, and is not confirmed), a unknown number of razors left after the bankruptcy found it's way to at least one large private collection in addition to some museum collections.

Some of these razors have lately been seen for sale in the open market.

Originally Posted by Zephyr

As an additional note, the Heljestrand knife factory was founded in 1808 by Olof Heljestrand, the factory was closed, caused by bankruptcy in 1980.

To my knowledge (note this is secondhand information I have recieved in my search for information, and is not confirmed), a unknown number of razors left after the bankruptcy found it's way to at least one large private collection in addition to some museum collections.

Some of these razors have lately been seen for sale in the open market.

Could you give any details as to cities where these factories are and names of museums to see these razors etc?
I would love to visit these one day.
Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge with us

Probably my favorite, if I could only have one, commercially (not custom) razor is Heljestrand. Thanks very much for the translation Rune. BTW, there is a disease that was peculiar to cutlery grinders and that is probably what killed the poor fellow so young. There was a book written on it titled,"The Prevention And Treatment Of The Sheffield Grinders' Disease." That is how common it was to craftsmen who pursued that trade in the early days.

I think what killed them was pulmonary disease (silicosis) caused by grinding dust.

Originally Posted by bonitomio

Could you give any details as to cities where these factories are and names of museums to see these razors etc?
I would love to visit these one day.
Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge with us

The old Forges is located in Eskilstuna in the Eastern part of Sweden, I guess the Eskilstuna stadsmuseum (Eskilstuna Town Museum) would be the place to visit.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Probably my favorite, if I could only have one, commercially (not custom) razor is Heljestrand. Thanks very much for the translation Rune. BTW, there is a disease that was peculiar to cutlery grinders and that is probably what killed the poor fellow so young. There was a book written on it titled,"The Prevention And Treatment Of The Sheffield Grinders' Disease." That is how common it was to craftsmen who pursued that trade in the early days.

Yes, I've read about that.

Although the history say he died from tuberculosis, I suppose the "Grinders Disease" might (or probably was) what caused it, or at least partially.

Zephyr thank you for doing the heavy lifting with this. Greatly appreciated!